وَيْحَكَWoe to you
Woe to you!
نُورُthe light ofالْبِلَادِthe landsوَأَمْلَاكُهَاand its kings
The light of the lands and its kings,
وَبِنَاand through usتَفْخَرُpridesالْأُمَّةُthe nation
And through us the nation prides itself,
وَإِلَيْنَاand to usتُلْقَىare castمَقَالِيدُthe reins ofالْأَزِمَّةِcommand
And to us are cast the reins of command,
أَتَصُولُDo you assaultوَأَنْتَwhile youتَخْدَعُdeceiveالنِّسَاءَwomen
Do you attack while you deceive women,
ثُمَّthenتَفْخَرُboastعَلَىagainstبَنِيthe sons ofالْأَنْبِيَاءِ؟the prophets?
Then boast against the sons of the prophets?
لَمْHave notتَزَلِceasedالْأَقَاوِيلُsayingsمِنَّاfrom usمَقْبُولَةًaccepted
Sayings from us have never ceased to be accepted,
وَعَلَيْكَand against youوَعَلَىand againstأَبِيكَyour fatherمَرْدُودَةً،rejected
And against you and your father rejected,
دَخَلَEnteredالنَّاسُpeopleفِيintoدِينِreligion ofجَدِّيmy grandfather
People entered the religion of my grandfather
طَائِعِينَwillinglyوَكَارِهِينَand unwillingly
Willingly and unwillingly,
ثُمَّthenبَايَعُواthey pledged allegiance toأَمِيرَthe commander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،the faithful,
Then they pledged allegiance to the Commander of the Faithful,
رَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwithعَنْهُ،him,
May Allah be pleased with him,
فَسَارَSo he marchedإِلَىagainstأَبِيكَyour fatherوَطَلْحَةَand Talhah
So he marched against your father and Talhah
حِينَwhenنَكَثَاthey brokeالْبَيْعَةَthe pledgeوَخَدَعَاand deceivedعِرْسَthe wife ofرَسُولِthe Messenger ofاللَّهِ،Allah,
When they broke the pledge and deceived the wife of the Messenger of Allah,
صَلَّىmay Allah invoke blessingsاللَّهُupon himعَلَيْهِandوَسَلَّمَ،grant him peace,
May Allah bless him and grant him peace,
فَقُتِلَand was killedأَبُوكَyour fatherوَطَلْحَةُand Talhah
And your father and Talhah were killed,
وَأُتِيَand you were broughtبِكَasأَسِيرًا،a captive,
And you were brought as a captive,
فَبَصْبَصْتَso you whimperedبِذَنَبِكَwith your tail
So you cringed like a dog wagging its tail,
وَنَاشَدْتَهُand appealed to him byالرِّحْمَkinship
And appealed to him by kinship
أَنْnotلَاtoيَقْتُلَكَkill youفَعَفَاso he forgaveعَنْكَ،you,
Not to kill you, so he pardoned you,
فَأَنْتَso you areعَتَاقَةُthe freedman ofأَبِيmy father
Therefore you are my father's freedman,
وَأَنَاand I amسَيِّدُكَyour masterوَسَيِّدُand the master ofأَبِيكَ،your father,
And I am your master and the master of your father,
فَذُقْso tasteوَبَالَthe consequence ofأَمْرِكَ!your affair!
So taste the consequence of your affair!
فَقَالَSaidابْنُIbnالزُّبَيْرِ:Al-Zubayr:
Ibn Al-Zubayr said:
اعْذُرْExcuseيَاOأَبَاAbuمُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
"Excuse me, Abu Muhammad,
فَإِنَّمَاfor indeedحَمَلَنِيprompted meعَلَىtoمُحَاوَرَتِكَconverse with youهَذَاthis
For what prompted me to converse with you is this,
وَأَحَبَّand he lovedالْإِغْرَاءَinstigationبَيْنَنَاbetween us
And he loved to instigate trouble between us.
فَهَلَّاWhy did you notإِذْwhenجَهِلْتُI acted foolishlyأَمْسَكْتَrestrainعَنِّيyourself from me
Why did you not, when I acted foolishly, restrain yourself from me?
فَإِنَّكُمْFor youأَهْلُare a householdبَيْتٍwhoseسَجِيَّتُكُمُnature isالْحِلْمُforbearanceوَالْعَفْوُ!and pardon!
For you are a household whose nature is forbearance and pardon!
فَقَالَSaidالْحَسَنُ:Al-Hasan:
Al-Hasan said:
يَاOمُعَاوِيَةُMu'awiyahانْظُرْlookهَلْwhetherأَكِيعُI hesitateعَنْinمُحَاوَرَةِconversing withأَحَدٍ،anyone,
"O Mu'awiyah, see whether I hesitate in conversing with anyone!
وَيْحَكَWoe to youأَتَدْرِيdo you knowمِنْfromأَيِّwhichشَجَرَةٍtreeأَنَاI amوَإِلَىand to whomمَنْwhomأَنْتَمِي؟do I belong?
Woe to you, do you know from which tree I am and to whom I belong?
انْتَهِCeaseقَبْلَbeforeأَنْthatأَسِمَكَI brand youبِمَيْسِمٍwith a brand
Cease before I brand you with a mark
تَتَحَدَّثُthat will talk aboutبِهِitالرُّكْبَانُtravelersفِيinالْآفَاقِthe horizonsوَالْبُلْدَانِ،and lands,
That travelers will talk about across horizons and lands."
فَقَالَSaidابْنُIbnالزُّبَيْرِ:Al-Zubayr:
Ibn Al-Zubayr said:
هُوَHe isلِذَلِكَfor thatأَهْلٌ.worthy.
"He is worthy of that."
فَقَالَSaidمُعَاوِيَةُ:Mu'awiyah:
Mu'awiyah said:
أَمَّاAs forإِنَّهُindeed heقَدْhasشَفَىhealedبَلَابِلَthe griefs ofصَدْرِيmy chestمِنْكَfrom you
"Indeed, he has healed the grief of my chest concerning you
وَرَمَىand struckمَقْتَلَكَyour fatal spot
And struck your fatal spot,
فَصِرْتَso you becameكَالْحَجَلِlike the partridgeفِيinكَفِّthe palm ofالْبَازِيthe falcon
So you became like a partridge in the talon of a falcon,
يَتَلَاعَبُit playsبِكَwith youكَيْفَhoweverأَرَادَit wants
Playing with you however it pleases,
فَلَاsoأَرَاكَI do not see youتَفْخَرُboastingعَلَىagainstأَحَدٍanyoneبَعْدَهَا.after it.
And I do not see you boasting against anyone after this."
وَذَكَرُواAnd they mentionedأَنَّthatالْحَسَنَAl-Hasanبْنَson ofعَلِيٍّAliدَخَلَenteredعَلَىuponمُعَاوِيَةَMu'awiyahفَقَالَand saidمُتَمَثِّلاً:reciting as a verse:
And they mentioned that Al-Hasan ibn Ali entered upon Mu'awiyah and recited as poetry:
فِيمَWhereforeالْكَلَامُthe talkوَقَدْwhen indeedسَبَقْتَyou surpassedمُبَرِّزاًsurpassing others......سَبْقَthe surpassing ofالْجَوَادِthe steedمِنْfromالْمَدَىthe distanceوَالْمَقِيسِand the measured
Wherefore the talk when you have already outstripped, like the outstripping of the steed in distance and measure?
فَقَالَSaidمُعَاوِيَةُ:Mu'awiyah:
Mu'awiyah said:
إِيَّايَMeتَعْنِي؟do you mean?
"Do you mean me?
أَمَّاByاللَّهِAllahلَأُنَبِّئَنَّكَI will surely inform you ofبِمَاwhatيَعْرِفُهُknowsقَلْبُكَyour heartوَلَاand does notيُنْكِرُهُdeny itجُلَسَاؤُكَ،your companions,
By Allah, I will surely inform you of what your heart knows and your companions do not deny:
أَنَاI amابْنُthe son ofبَطْحَاءِthe valley ofمَكَّةَ،Makkah,
I am the son of the valley of Makkah,
أَنَاI amابْنُthe son ofأَجْوَدِهَاits most generousجُوداًin generosityوَأَكْرَمِهَاand its most nobleجُدُوداًin ancestryوَأَوْفَاهَاand its most fulfillingعُهُوداً،in covenants,
I am the son of its most generous in generosity, most noble in ancestry, and most faithful in covenants.
أَنَاI amابْنُthe son ofمَنْone whoسَادَruledقُرَيْشاًQurayshنَاشِئاًas a youthوَكَهْلاً.and a mature man.
I am the son of him who led Quraysh as a youth and a mature man."
فَقَالَSaidالْحَسَنُ،Al-Hasan,رَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwithعَنْهُ:him:
Al-Hasan, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
أَجَلْYesإِيَّاكَyouأَعْنِي،I mean,
"Indeed, you I mean.
أَفَعَلَيَّDo you against meتَفْخَرُboastيَاOمُعَاوِيَةُ؟Mu'awiyah?
Do you boast against me, O Mu'awiyah?
أَنَاI amابْنُthe son ofمَاءِthe water ofالسَّمَاءِthe skyوَعُرُوقِand the roots ofالثَّرَىthe earth
I am the son of the water of the sky and the roots of the earth,
وَابْنُand the son ofمَنْhim whoسَادَledأَهْلَthe people ofالدُّنْيَاthe world
And the son of him who led the people of the world
بِالْحَسَبِwith the steadfastالثَّابِتِlineageوَالشَّرَفِand the eminentالْفَائِقِhonorوَالْقَدِيمِand the ancientالسَّابِقِ،precedence,
With steadfast lineage, eminent honor, and ancient precedence.
أَنَاI amابْنُthe son ofمَنْhim whoseرِضَاهُpleasure isرِضَىthe pleasure ofالرَّحْمَنِthe Most Mercifulوَسَخَطُهُand whose wrath isسَخَطُthe wrath ofالرَّحْمَنِ،the Most Merciful,
I am the son of him whose pleasure is the pleasure of the Most Merciful and whose wrath is the wrath of the Most Merciful.
فَهَلْSo doلَكَyou haveأَبٌa fatherكَأَبِيlike my fatherوَقَدِيمٌand an antiquityكَقَدِيمِي؟like my antiquity?
So do you have a father like my father and an antiquity like my antiquity?
فَإِنْFor ifقُلْتَyou sayلَاnoتُغْلَبْyou will be defeatedوَإِنْand ifقُلْتَyou sayنَعَمْyesتَكْذِبْ.you will lie.
For if you say no, you are defeated, and if you say yes, you lie."
فَقَالَSaidمُعَاوِيَةُ:Mu'awiyah:
Mu'awiyah said:
أَقُولُI sayلَاnoتَصْدِيقاًin confirmation ofلِقَوْلِكَ.your statement.
"I say no, confirming your statement."
فَقَالَSaidالْحَسَنُ:Al-Hasan:
Al-Hasan said:
الْحَقُّThe truthأَبْلَجُis manifestمَاwhateverتَخُونَyou stray fromسَبِيلَهُits path
The truth is manifest, whatever path of it you betray,
وَالصِّدْقُand honestyيَعْرِفُهُis known byذَوُوthe people ofالْأَلْبَابِintellect
And honesty is recognized by men of intellect.
تَخُونَYou strayأَيْmeaningمَاwhatتَخُونَyou stray fromمَنْof those whoسَلَكَهَا،walked it,
Takhūna meaning what you deviate from of those who walked its path.
قَالَ:He said:وَقَالَAnd saidمُعَاوِيَةُMu'awiyahذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayوَعِنْدَهُwhile with him wereأَشْرَافُthe nobles ofالنَّاسِthe peopleمِنْfromقُرَيْشٍQurayshوَغَيْرِهِمْ:and others:
He said: Mu'awiyah once said while the nobles of Quraysh and others were with him:
أَخْبِرُونِيTell meبِخَيْرِabout the bestالنَّاسِof peopleأَبَاًin fatherوَأُمّاًand motherوَعَمّاًand paternal uncleوَعَمَّةًand paternal auntوَخَالاًand maternal uncleوَخَالَةًand maternal auntوَجَدّاًand grandfatherوَجَدَّةً.and grandmother.
"Tell me who is the best of people in father, mother, uncle, aunt, maternal uncle, maternal aunt, grandfather, and grandmother."
فَقَامَStood upمَالِكُMalikبْنُson ofالْعَجْلَانِAl-Ajlanفَأَوْمَأَand pointedإِلَىtowardالْحَسَنِAl-Hasanفَقَالَ:and said:
Malik ibn al-Ajlan stood up, pointed toward Al-Hasan, and said:
هَاBeholdهُوَذَاhe isأَبُوهُhis father isعَلِيُّAliبْنُson ofأَبِيAbuطَالِبٍ،Talib,
"Here he is: his father is Ali ibn Abi Talib,
رِضْوَانُmay the pleasure ofاللَّهِAllah beعَلَيْهِمْ،upon them,
May the pleasure of Allah be upon them,
وَأُمُّهُand his mother isفَاطِمَةُFatimahبِنْتُdaughter ofرَسُولِthe Messenger ofاللَّهِ،Allah,
And his mother is Fatimah, daughter of the Messenger of Allah,
صَلَّىmay Allah blessاللَّهُHimعَلَيْهِandوَسَلَّمَ،grant him peace,
May Allah bless him and grant him peace,
وَعَمُّهُand his paternal uncle isجَعْفَرٌJa'farالطَّيَّارُthe Flierفِيinالْجِنَانِ،Paradise,
And his paternal uncle is Ja'far the Flier in Paradise,
وَعَمَّتُهُand his paternal aunt isأُمُّUmmهَانِئٍHaniبِنْتُdaughter ofأَبِيAbuطَالِبٍ،Talib,
And his paternal aunt is Umm Hani bint Abi Talib,
وَخَالُهُand his maternal uncle isالْقَاسِمُAl-Qasimبْنُson ofرَسُولِthe Messenger ofاللَّهِ،Allah,
And his maternal uncle is Al-Qasim ibn al-Rasulullah,
وَخَالَتُهُand his maternal aunt isبِنْتُdaughter ofرَسُولِthe Messenger ofاللَّهِ،Allah,زَيْنَبُ،Zaynab,
And his maternal aunt is the daughter of the Messenger of Allah, Zaynab,
وَجَدُّهُand his grandfather isرَسُولُthe Messenger ofاللَّهِ،Allah,
And his grandfather is the Messenger of Allah,
وَجَدَّتُهُand his grandmother isخَدِيجَةُKhadijahبِنْتُdaughter ofخُوَيْلِدٍ،Khuwaylid,رَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwithعَنْهَا.her.
And his grandmother is Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, may Allah be pleased with her."
فَسَكَتَFell silentالْقَوْمُthe peopleوَنَهَضَand aroseالْحَسَنُ،Al-Hasan,
The people fell silent and Al-Hasan arose,
فَأَقْبَلَso turnedعَمْرُو'Amrبْنُson ofالْعَاصِAl-AasعَلَىtowardمَالِكٍMalikفَقَالَ:and said:
And 'Amr ibn al-Aas turned to Malik and said:
أَحَبُّThe love forبَنِيthe sons ofهَاشِمٍHashimحَمَلَكَprompted youعَلَىtoأَنْthatتَكَلَّمْتَyou spokeبِالْبَاطِلِ؟with falsehood?
"Did your love for Banu Hashim prompt you to speak with falsehood?"
فَقَالَSaidابْنُIbnالْعَجْلَانِ:Al-Ajlan:
Ibn al-Ajlan said:
مَاI didقُلْتُspeakإِلَّاexceptحَقّاًthe truth
"I spoke nothing but the truth,
وَمَاand noneأَحَدٌofمِنَtheالنَّاسِpeopleيَطْلُبُseeksمَرْضَاةَthe pleasure ofمَخْلُوقٍa created being
And no one from the people seeks the pleasure of a created being
بِمَعْصِيَةِby disobeyingالْخَالِقِthe Creatorإِلَّاexcept thatلَمْhe is notيُعْطَgivenأُمْنِيَّتَهُhis wishفِيinدُنْيَاهُhis worldly life
Through disobeying the Creator, without being denied his wish in his worldly life,
وَخُتِمَand it is sealedلَهُfor himبِالشَّقَاءِwith miseryفِيinآخِرَتِهِ،his hereafter,
And having his hereafter sealed with misery.
بَنُوThe sons ofهَاشِمٍHashimأَنْضَرُهُمْare the freshest of themعُوداًin branchوَأَوْرَاهُمْand the brightest of themزَنْداً،in flint,
Banu Hashim are the freshest of stock and brightest of fire-sticks,
كَذَلِكَsuch is itيَاOمُعَاوِيَةُ.Mu'awiyah.
Such is it, O Mu'awiyah!"
قَالَ:He said:اللَّهُمَّO Allahنَعَمْ.yes.
He said: "O Allah, yes."